How a hospice's Clinical Nurse Specialist helped Jean stay at home

After being diagnosed with cancer in October 2023, Jean was left in pain by her treatment and was referred to Birmingham Hospice. Since early 2024, she’s been visited regularly at home by Community Palliative Care Team member Ruth Roberts.

Ruth has been able to assess Jean’s symptoms and arrange for appropriate care and medications to be available.

When she was running out of her prescription medication Ruth was also able to help ensure Jean wasn’t left in discomfort.
 

For people being cared for at home, there are a range of additional services a CNS can help with. These include helping with benefits, providing support with disabled parking badge applications and getting equipment such as walking frames, beds and wheelchairs.

Ruth’s support has given the much-loved mother and grandmother, - who lives on her own – a  new lease of life. For daughters Julie and Lynne, it has taken some of the pressure off them.
Jean was even able to go on holiday several times last year, including a special trip to Ireland for her granddaughter’s wedding.

“I know I can call the hospice at any time, which is a huge relief,” said daughter Julie.

“I have called at 8pm on a Sunday night asking for advice when I have seen Mum in pain, and I didn’t know what to do. Ruth and everyone at the hospice are amazing. Quite frankly, I don’t know how we’d cope without their help.”

Members of the CNS team at Birmingham Hospice can support anyone aged 18 or over living at home with long-term illness, including cancer, neurological conditions, genetic conditions and renal failure. They are referred to the hospice by GPs, district nurses or other medical professionals.

Ruth explains: “We look at what their preferred place of care or death might be, if there’s anything they particularly value or are frightened of, or if there’s anything they feel very strongly about, like admission to hospital or being at home when they die. It’s based on the individual.

“People have said to me in the past that they didn’t want to have the conversation but feel better once they’ve had it.”

Each CNS has their own area of expertise and experience, such as respiratory or oncology, and complicated cases are discussed with their colleagues at fortnightly multidisciplinary team meetings.

“Those under their care can also be informed about the other services at our hospices like the Living Well Centre and counselling.

“Our primary aim is to make sure people have the best quality of life they possibly can in the time they have left,” added Ruth.

“As a CNS it’s a real privilege to be allowed into their homes and get to know the families well. By visiting them you can see if they are beginning to struggle and be proactive in their care.” 

Most importantly, Jean’s experience with Ruth and Birmingham Hospice also eased her initial worries. 
She adds, “If you don’t know about the hospice you can think it’s quite scary, but my experience has completely changed my mind. You can’t fault them on anything at all.”

Thank you to Jean and Birmingham Hospice for sharing her story.